by Noam Bramson | Apr 11, 2011
As the largest soup kitchen and food pantry in our region, HOPE Community Services is often a life-line for residents facing difficult family and financial challenges. While nutrition and basic sustenance are at the core of HOPE’s mission, it also offers much more.
A great example is Hair Cuts for HOPE, which provides free professional haircuts and personal hygiene products for those who could not otherwise afford such services. In truth, Hair Cuts for HOPE is about dignity — and it makes a big difference for the program participants.
Hair Cuts for HOPE is the creation and the passion of Gisele Guerrero, a New Rochelle resident who owns a salon in Larchmont. Gisele personally does most of the styling at HOPE on a fully volunteer basis, and she has enlisted a great number of contributors and supporters to help fund other aspects of the program.
This Wednesday, April 13th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Hair Cuts for HOPE is hosting a benefit at Vintage 1891 at 2098 Boston Post Road in Larchmont. Tickets are $45 per person. Ordinarily, I don’t publicize events outside of New Rochelle, but since this particular event supports a program within our community, I am making an exception.
For more information, call 914-834-1700, email admin@giselessalon.com, or visit Haircuts for HOPE on Facebook.
by Noam Bramson | Nov 24, 2010
HOPE Community Services is the largest soup kitchen and provider of nutrition assistance in our region. Located at St. Gabriel’s Church, between Washington and Union Avenues, HOPE is a lifeline for hundreds of individuals and families in New Rochelle.
This morning, Catie, the boys and I visited HOPE to help distribute Thanksgiving meals. It is a sad sign of the times that demand for HOPE’s services is way up. More than 800 turkeys were given out today to qualified recipients, the largest number in HOPE’s 26-year history. Fortunately, HOPE’s dedicated and remarkably efficient staff and volunteers were more than up to the challenge, greeting each person with the courtesy and good will that befit the holiday. It was inspiring to be in their company.
HOPE’s work makes a real difference in the lives of so many of our neighbors, and they can always benefit from additional volunteer assistance, financial contributions or the donation of goods.
For more information, visit HOPE’s website, call 914-636-4010, or email info@hope-cs.org.
Catie joins me in extending best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
by Noam Bramson | Nov 19, 2009
Coming Together for HOPE & Campership
This difficult economy has been particularly hard on the underprivileged residents of New Rochelle. As a community, we can come together to ensure that all of our neighbors have access to the basic necessities. Among many other good options for donations and volunteer service, let me draw your attention to two organizations doing very valuable work.
HOPE Community Services
HOPE Community Services operates the largest soup kitchen and food pantry in our region. Its dedicated staff and volunteers serve hundreds of thousands of meals every year to the elderly, the infirm, young parents with infants and small children, and the unemployed. Unfortunately, as Thanksgiving approaches, HOPE is experiencing a dramatic increase in demand, and hundreds more Thanksgiving meals are needed. To meet this challenge, the City and School District have teamed up to launch a Thanksgiving Food Drive. You can help by making a donation of either food items or money
Food items needed include: Turkeys, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Vegetables, and Pies. Perishable items should be donated directly to HOPE Community Services at 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at Room B-3 in the City Hall Annex from 8:30am to 4:30pm. From November 16th through 20th, non-perishable items can also be dropped off in the main lobbies of the following schools: Columbus, Davis, Jefferson, Webster, Isaac Young, and New Rochelle High School.
If it is more convenient for you, then simply write a check to HOPE. Checks are payable to “HOPE Community Services” and can be mailed to 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801. Please note “City-School Food Drive” in the memo section of your check. Contributions to HOPE are tax-deductible. A donation of $30 covers the cost of a single Thanksgiving meal.
New Rochelle Campership Fund
Learn about the Campership Fund.
Read about Lance Cohen.
The New Rochelle Campership fund is the only not-for-profit organization in our community that exists solely to send children of financially needy families to summer camp. Since 1957 it has helped 21,831 children enjoy the summer of their lives. Because Campership is run by an all-volunteer board, virtually 100% of every donation goes toward its mission. You can learn more about the Campership Fund and obtain information about making a donation at www.campership.org. Or contact the Chair of the Campership Fund, Martin Friedrichs, at 914-632-8798.
Finally, for an inspiring example of community spirit, read about Lance Cohen, age 12, who is Campership’s largest single contributor this year, having devoted his Bar Mitzvah project at Beth El Synagogue to this great cause.
